Plants Harboring Roof Rats

Southern California vector control districts have developed a list of backyard plants that are known to harbor roof rats. These plants are common plants that you will find at your local nursery. Consideration should be taken when planting these ornamentals, as they provide food and/or nesting sites for these rats.

Those plants are:

• Algerian Ivy (Hedera canariensis)
• Baccharis or Dwarf Chaparral Broom (Baccharis pilularis)
• Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) - ground cover varieties
• California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera)
• Cape Honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis)
• Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis)
• Creeping Fig Vine (Ficus pumila or F. repens)
• Honeysuckle or Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
• Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
• Natal Plum (Carissa macrocarpa or C. grandiflora)
• Oleander (Nerium oleander)
• Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
• Sydney Golden Wattle (Acacia longifolia)
• Tam or Tamarix Juniper (Juniperus tamariscifolia or J.sabina “Tamariscifolia”)
• Yucca (Yucca spp.)